Nov. 24, 1997: John L. Smith is named Louisville's new head football coach (effective Dec. 1), replacing Ron Cooper, and says he'll bring offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Bobby Petrino with him from Utah State.

1998: In Petrino's first year as offensive coordinator, U of L sets school records for scoring, scoring average, touchdowns, passing touchdowns and total yards.

1999-2001: Moves to the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he's quarterbacks coach for two years and offensive coordinator for the third season under head coach Tom Coughlin.

2002: Hired as offensive coordinator at Auburn under head coach Tommy Tuberville.

Dec. 23, 2002: Hired as head coach at Louisville, replacing Smith, who left the previous week to take the head coaching job at Michigan State. His 5-year contract at $450,000 annually includes $250,000 in performance incentives and a $750,000 bonus should he stay five years.

Nov. 18, 2003: Mentioned in speculation that he's a possible candidate for Auburn coaching job if head coach Tommy Tuberville is fired or forced to resign the next weekend.

Nov. 20, 2003: Meets with Auburn President William Walker, athletic director David Housel and two trustees after the four fly into Clark County Airport in Sellersburg, Ind.

Nov. 25, 2003: After denying it the day before, Petrino admits to meeting with Auburn officials, apologizes to athletic director Tom Jurich and Tuberville and withdraws from consideration if the Auburn job opens up.

2003: Petrino's first team goes 9-4 and loses 49-28 to Miami of Ohio in GMAC Bowl.

Oct. 26, 2004: Assures former football letterwinners "that I will be staying in Louisville" amid rumors that he will be a candidate for the Florida job.

Dec. 7, 2004: Announces he will stay at U of L, saying, "I'm not interested in any other coaching jobs."

July 13, 2006: Signs 10-year contract worth at least $25.5 million. Said at the time that he hoped it would stop speculation about other openings. Insisted that Jurich include a $1 million buyout clause. Petrino was in line to collect a $1 million loyalty bonus if he were still the coach on July 1.

"For me and my family, Louisville is my home," Petrino said after signing. "I also wanted to make sure that everyone understood — and I know I've said it — that this is where my family wants to be and where I want to be."

November 2006: When name comes up connected with vacancies at Miami and Alabama, releases statement in which he says: "I am not a candidate for any job openings."

Jan. 7, 2007: Leaves to become head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, accepting a 5-year, $24 million deal. Meets with players at 9 p.m. to tell them of his decision. In four seasons, Petrino's Louisville teams go 41-9.

Nov. 26, 2007: Says he hasn't considered leaving the Falcons, who are 3-8 without quarterback Michael Vick.

Dec. 10, 2007: Resigns from the Falcons 13 games into his first season, telling his players with a 78-word note on each player's locker.That night, Petrino is introduced as the head coach at Arkansas.

2008-2011: In four seasons at Arkansas, Petrino goes 34-16. His 2010 team goes 10-2 and loses the Sugar Bowl to Ohio State 31-26, Arkansas' only BCS bowl game. In 2011, the Razorbacks go 11-2, beat Kansas State 29-16 in the Cotton Bowl and finish No. 5 in the AP poll, their highest ranking since 1977.

March 28, 2012: Announces that former Arkansas volleyball player Jessica Dorrell has been hired as student-athlete development coordinator.

April 1, 2012: Petrino is injured when he crashes his motorcycle. His passenger is Dorrell, with whom it was later revealed he was having an affair. Petrino tries to hide the assistant's presence, asking a witness not to call 911, and Arkansas releases a statement Petrino was alone in the crash.

April 10, 2012: Fired by Arkansas after facts of the crash are revealed, for misleading school officials about the relationship.

Dec. 20, 2012: Hired by Western Kentucky to replace Willie Taggart, who left for South Florida. The Hilltoppers go 8-4 in his only season.

Jan. 6, 2014: Charlie Strong leaves Louisville to become head coach at Texas after going 37-16 in four seasons. Petrino immediately becomes mentioned as a possible candidate.